131. C.P. CAVAFY: Ithaka

Constantine P. Cavafy (1863-1933) was a Greek poet, although he was born and spent most of his life in Alexandria, Egypt. Ithaka is one of Cavafy’s most famous poems and is a tribute to the original Greek poet, Homer, and his poem The Odyssey (which along with it’s companion, The Iliad, are the two oldest known works of Western literature). The Odyssey revolves around the hero Odysseus and his long voyage home to Ithaka after the Trojan war.

My hero in the comic is NOT meant to be Odysseus. I used Cavafy’s words and drew upon my childhood diet of comic books and Ray Harryhausen movies to tell a different story.

You know, in martial arts we say that “it is the journey, not the destination” but in the hustle and bustle of life it is all too easy to let that destination-mindset cloud our minds. When that happens we find ourselves focusing too much on the journey’s summit and miss the life changing path up the mountain.

Did the troll write the poem? Of course not, unless the poet faked his death. Even then, many poets understand that what their works mean often changes from reader to reader. I agree with what Gav seems to be portraying here; that the only purpose in a destination is to have an excuse for a journey in the first place, and that the JOURNEY is the most important part, not the destination. Hell, every single road trip I’ve ever taken ‘for the hell of it’ has happened with this in mind! I’m sorry that the troll can’t understand this, but what do you expect from a creature that lives under a bridge and harasses goats?

“Ithaka” can be anything. The destination doesn’t matter. What is important is all the things you experience and learn along the way.

This was truly an epic story. I loved the metaphor of breaking the sword. He brought it with him expecting trouble, so trouble is what he found. And of course he would send his daughter on the same journey back, in the end. I wonder how many generations of that family have made that journey.

I’d like to thank you for this comic. There are few moments in your life when you’ll have discovered something that you know you’ll carry with you for the rest of your life. Knowing this poem through this comic is one of those moments for me.

First read the poem when I started university and fell for it instantly. It became one of the strength I need on the journey in pursuit of my dreams. Thank you for bringing this up now, as I am fighting one the monsters which is here because I bring them in the soul.

You seem to be the only one who REALLY knows what the poem means.. which is impossible, by the way, because poetry is open to interpretation and one poem can mean something completely different to every person who reads it. But why don’t you share with us what every single other person besides you seems to have wrong when it comes to understanding what it means?

It’s a great poem especially for those who get too absorbed in the pursuit of their dreams. It is important to remember that the journey is more important than the destination. Instead of ticking off things from a list we should enjoy the journey and let the winds of fate guide us to our real destination.

Great work Gav. I liked the introduction. It suited the epicness of this comic.

Greetings from a Phaeacian (Corfiot). I enjoyed today’s comic, but there is always room for improvement. I am not sure about the translation either… But overall a very good result, don’t you worry. 😛 The poem’s message is passed successfully I think.

Great piece of work Gavin! It’s an understatement to say it’s great, you are doing work that not only inspire but bring purpose to people’s lives in different meanings, and you have reminded me of my ‘Ithaka’ too.

I really look forward to your work each time, knowing that you have something good coming up.

I love this! It’s one of my favourite poems 🙂 I originally read it in one of the books of the Roman Mysteries series by Caroline Lawrence, but it was a slightly different translation, which I think was more poetic. The translation is her own, and you can read it here: http://nuttynoa.blogspot.in/2012/07/ithaca.html?m=1

P.S. I am obsessed with your cartoons. They are so inspiring that they have reminded me of my dream to be a writer 🙂 Thank you! And please keep creating them, they are beautiful.

As a guy who is currently having problems with his journey in life, your comic inspires me that there are better days ahead. Also, enjoy the journey. As they say that it is more important than the destination. Thanks for this Gav!

I appreciate most of this comic, but I did not particularly like the implication of the word “sensual” referring to a woman. This was most likely not the implication of the poem, as sensuality used to refer to the simple idea of experiencing the senses. It wasn’t until recently that sensuality became synonymous with sexuality.

Your work is exquisite. I am working my way through all of this website. I am taking my time because each one deserves contemplation. I have often thought that cartoonists wield immense power, perhaps because they make the obscure accessible. You use this power to it’s highest potential, I am in awe.

This is one of my favorite poems, by one of the greatest Greek contemporary poets. Thank you for illustrating it. Please do not pay attention to those saying that you didn’t understand the poem, or that this is not what the poet meant — they are missing the point of …well. Poetry. All I know is that the illustration spoke to me the same way the poem did, all those years ago when I first read it.

It was very surprising to read about that poem – in Poland we have one that starts in a similar fashion and is also set in an ancient tradition. Unfortunately I found only 4 verses translated:

If you set out on a journey let it be long
wandering that seems to have no aim groping your way blindly
so you learn the roughness of the earth not only with your eyes
but by touch so you confront the world with your whole skin

—Zbigniew Herbert, “Journey”

BTW I’ve sent you an email about Polish translations of your comic strips, but to no response. Is it still possible to help you in translation to Polish?

This is by far my favorite work of yours. I really thank you for putting so much dedication into this, just so people around the world can be inspired. I love your work, Gav. And I hope you continue to do this, even if there are long intervals between the release of different pieces. I sincerely thank you for all of this. It has helped me get through a lot of difficult times

Great print but it’s all about the first line:As you set out for Ithaka, wish the road to be long. ??? ????? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ?????, ?? ??????? ?? ????? ?????? ? ??????…
It has nothing to do with oduseas’s epic journey to get back to his kingdom Ithaka and his wife Penelope, after the trojan war.

I honestly don’t always agree with the quotes here (Most seem a little too idealistic to me) but this is one are really like, simple poignant, and with a good, practical message: pick a goal, work towards it, and enjoy the journey that takes you there

This is your best, most inspired work, in my opinion. Not only did you re-visualize a re-visualization of an epic, but you also made your work epic in its own sense (despite the short space of panels) and made it your own story. Outstanding!

In there it’s an explanation of how I did and why I did it, it’s not a typical game at all, but I think I conveyed the message the best I could. Thanks for this space and for everyone that checked it.

Also wanted to mention that it got included in the first bundle of argentinian videogames, which is a curated selection of works, that anyone can download for free, and it’s available here: http://bundleargentino.tumblr.com

Your work is exquisite. I am working my way through all of this website. I am taking my time because each one deserves contemplation. I have often thought that cartoonists wield immense power, perhaps because they make the obscure accessible. You use this power to it’s highest potential, I am in awe.

Not much to be said about Cavafy, simply one of the Greats. But, let’s also give credit to Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard, who have managed to translate the true feeling of Cavafy’s rich and purposefully peculiar Greek. As a native speaker of Greek and fluent in English, I find it difficult to choose between the two, and that says something…

By the way, not much to be said about the cartoon rendition here either; just wonderful! Thank you!

I discovered, to my amazement, that all through history there had been resistance … and bitter, exaggerated, last-stitch resistance … to every significant technological change that had taken place on earth. Usually the resistance came from those groups who stood to lose influence, status, money…as a result of the change. Although they never advanced this as their reason for resisting it. It was always the good of humanity that rested upon their hearts.